Rules for Schools

Friday

Dec 9, 2016 at 12:01 AM

RESIDENCY

Every SouthCoast city and town has elementary schools that students are eligible to attend. Freetown and Lakeville are grouped into one school district.

Middle school students in Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester can go to Old Rochester Regional Middle School in Mattapoisett. Students have some options when choosing high schools, however, based on there they live.

All SouthCoast towns, except Middleboro, give students the option of attending Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton.

Middleboro students do not have an option to attend an agricultural high school except at special request.

ACUSHNET: Students may attend New Bedford High School, Fairhaven High School or Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical high School in Rochester.

DARTMOUTH: Dartmouth High School or GNB Voc-Tech.

FAIRHAVEN: Fairhaven High School or GNB Voc-Tech.

FALL RIVER: BMC Durfee High School or Diman Regional Vocational-Technical High School.

FREETOWN and LAKEVILLE: Apponequet Regional High School or Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech.

MARION, MATTAPOISETT and ROCHESTER: Old Rochester Regional High School or Old Colony Regional Voc-Tech.

MIDDLEBORO: Middleboro High School or Bristol Plymouth Regional Vocational-Technical High School.

NEW BEDFORD: New Bedford High School or GNB Voc-Tech.

WAREHAM: Wareham High School or Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational-Technical High School.

WESTPORT: Westport High School or Diman Regional Voc-Tech.

AGES

Every school district has an age limit for children to enroll in kindergarten. Children must be 5 as of a certain date to be eligible to attend kindergarten for that school year. ACUSHNET: Sept. 30 DARTMOUTH: Aug. 31 FAIRHAVEN: Sept. 1 FALL RIVER: Sept. 1 FREETOWN: Aug. 31 LAKEVILLE: Aug. 31 MARION: Dec. 31 MATTAPOISETT: Dec. 31 MIDDLEBORO: Sept. 1 NEW BEDFORD: August 31 ROCHESTER: Dec. 31 WAREHAM: Sept. 30 WESTPORT: Oct. 1

IMMUNIZATIONS

Massachusetts has set standards for immunization shots that students must receive to attend school. These regulations stand for every school in the Commonwealth. BY AGE 2 (FOR PRESCHOOL AND DAY CARE) 3 doses of hepatitis B 4 doses of DTaP/DTP 3 doses of polio 4 doses of hib 1 dose of meningococcal 1 dose of varicella BY KINDERGARTEN 3 doses of hepatitis B 5 doses of DTaP/DTP 4 doses of polio 2 dose of meningococcal 1 dose of varicella BY 7TH GRADE 3 doses of hepatitis B 1 booster dose of Td 3 doses of polio 2 dose of meningococcal 1 dose of varicella (2 doses if age 13 or older) For more information about state immunization standards, visit www.mass.gov/dph

MCAS Stands for Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. These tests are mandated by the state and are given to all public school students throughout their K through 12 years. In order to graduate from high school, students must pass MCAS.

BUSING Public elementary and middle schools in SouthCoast have bus transportation available for all students at or near their homes.

Busing at high schools is limited, especially for students attending a vocational or agricultural high school in another town. Call the school for more information.

Busing is available at some private and parochial schools. Call the school for more information.